Janet Garcia-Hallett University of New Haven, USA

Janet Garcia-Hallett, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice in the University of New Haven. Her research is focused on social justice issues for marginalized populations – particularly, the impact of incarceration on communities of color and the obstacles women face before, during, and after incarceration. Her award-winning book, Invisible Mothers: Unseen Yet Hypervisible after Incarceration, explores how mothers of color navigate motherhood and life post-incarceration at the intersection of gender, motherhood, racial-ethnic background, and criminal record. It has received numerous recognitions, including the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) 2024 Outstanding Book Award and the American Sociological Association (ASA) Section on Crime, Law, and Deviance 2023 Ida B. Wells-Barnett Distinguished Book Award. In collaboration with the authors of the current handbook, Dr. Garcia-Hallett has partaken in multi-year community-engaged research projects to improve prison conditions for those working and living in carceral spaces, and to promote the overall well-being of prison staff and residents.